The axe, crafted from a sillimanite nodule, is notable for its white color, polygonal shape, and rectangular cross-section. It is in excellent condition, despite its rear end or heel being broken. It measures 12.5 centimeters in length, 4.7 centimeters in width, and 3.2 centimeters in thickness.
The Councilor for Historical Heritage, Iñaki Pérez Rico, highlighted the piece's significance: “this axe is much more than a prehistoric tool: it is an exceptional testament to the first communities that inhabited our territory and a demonstration of the enormous historical and archaeological value that Elda preserves. Knowing and disseminating our heritage is fundamental to understanding where we come from and preserving our collective memory”.
Polished stone axes were characteristic tools of the Neolithic period, marked by the advent of agriculture and animal husbandry and the transition to sedentary lifestyles. Their primary function was cutting and striking, used in agricultural tasks and tree felling, and they could be fitted into wooden handles. Some smaller pieces may also have served a ritual purpose.
The polishing technique, which involved smoothing the stone with friction and sand, enhanced the tools' durability and effectiveness. The axe was discovered in 1967 during agricultural work in the area of El Chopo, within the municipality of Elda, and handed over to the Archaeology Section of the Eldense Excursionist Center.
Subsequent archaeological surveys in the area did not yield further remains. The El Chopo-El Chorrillo site, north of the La Torreta mountain range, has also yielded pottery fragments and evidence of a possible pre-Roman sanctuary. The axe's chronology places it in the Neolithic period, approximately 7,000 years ago.
Currently, the artifact is part of the museum's collection and can be viewed in the Prehistory Room, alongside other materials from the El Chopo-El Chorrillo site and surrounding prehistoric locations.
